Luang Prabang:The discovery of 521 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard a private jet in Laos on October 1 is not connected to Malaysia, as the drugs are suspected to have been smuggled from Laos to the Philippines.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan stated that information from Laotian authorities indicated the chartered jet departed Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for Luang Prabang without any cargo onboard.

The flight from Subang carried three individuals: a Singaporean pilot, a Malaysian co-pilot, and a Filipino passenger. The drugs seized were intended for the Manila market, not Malaysia. The aircraft left Subang Airport without cargo and was allegedly used to transport the drugs from Laos to Manila.

Laotian authorities reported that the aircraft arrived at Luang Prabang International Airport at about 11:30 am local time on October 1. At 1:30 pm, two vehicles arrived, and airport staff helped transfer 23 bags from the vehicles onto trolleys to be loaded onto the aircraft. An inspection revealed 500 packages of methamphetamine weighing 521 kg.

The operation led to the arrest of 13 individuals, including the three crew members and passenger from Subang, as well as ten Laotian nationals, who were airport staff and X-ray machine operators. All suspects are in custody for further investigation by Laotian authorities.

Datuk Hussein Omar Khan also noted that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has begun a comprehensive investigation and plans to send NCID officers to Laos to gather further information about the drug syndicate, especially any possible connections to members in Malaysia.

This clarification follows initial reports that linked the aircraft's departure from Malaysia to the drug seizure worth millions of ringgit.